Protective pad for bed patients



Filed April 6, 1959 ATTORNEY 3,011,494 Patented Dec. 5, 1961 1 3,011,494 PROTECTIVE PAD FOR BED PATIENT Florence R. McGowan, 533 47th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, Fla. Filed Apr. 6, H59, Ser. No. 804,233

1 Claim. (Cl. 128-153) The present invention relates to an improved pad which can be applied to the heels or elbows of bed patients for preventing the skin and tissues covering these joints from developing sores due to reduced blood circulation caused by pressure thereon from the weight of the feet or arms resting on the bed.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a pad of the character mentioned having a socket formation for receiving a heel or elbow and which provides a relatively soft, resilient surface on which the heel or elbow is supported so that the pressure from the weight of the foot or arm so supported is distributed over a relatively wide area of the skin tissue thereby minimizing the tendency of the weight of the foot or arm to block blood circulation whereby healthy tissues are maintained. Furthermore, the form of the pad causes it to fit snugly to the heel or elbow so that the skin contacting the pad is protected against abrasion or irritation from rubbing thereon.

More specifically the invention contemplates the provision of a pad of the character mentioned comprising a strip of relatively thick resilient material, such as foam or sponge rubber, maintained in a partially folded form by gussets attached to the sides thereof to thereby form a socket into which the heel or elbow of a person may be received, the resilient strip forming a wall of the socket which supports the weight of the heel or elbow whereby the pressure of the supported member on the skin tissue is distributed over a relatively wide area so that a healthy circulation of blood in the tissue is maintained.

Still another aspect of the invention is the provision of a pad of the character mentioned comprising a cloth, pocket-like cover for receiving a pad of flexible resilient material, such as sponge rubber, the cover comprising a relatively soft cloth strip folded and stitched together along the sides and at one end with cloth gussets stitched to the sides, the stitching being on the inside of the cover so that the pad has no rough seams exposed on the skin contacting surfaces.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred form of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a pad embodying the invention shown attached to the foot of a patient lying in a bed, to protect the heel from developing sores, a portion of the pad being shown broken away;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pad shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the pad;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pad; and

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along line 55 of FIG. 3.

The improved pad comprises a relatively soft, flexible strip of material 10, such as foam rubber, which is maintained in a partially folded or'V-shape form by a cloth cover 11 fabricated to provide a pocket into which the strip is contained and which cover includes gussets 12 and 13 at opposite sides for maintaining the cover and strip in the V form mentioned. The pad is attached to the limb of the patient by straps 15. This arrangement provides a socket-like form to the pad into which the heel or elbow of a patient may be placed so that the pad does not move or slide appreciably relative to the skin of the heel or elbow, and the resilient strip 10 supports the weight of the foot or arm on the bed in a manner which distributes the pressure from this weight over a relatively wide skin area whereby blood circulation. which would otherwise be reduced to a degree deleterious to healthy tissue, may be maintained.

Cover 11 is preferably formed of a strip of flannel or other suitable soft cloth, and in fabricating the cover the area 11a at opposite sides of the strip are first gathered slightly by stitching and then the strip is folded at approximately the center portion 11b and doubled back to the end 110. The edge portions of the sides of the strip 11 are then joined by stitches 16 and 17 together with the edge portions 12a and 13a of gussets 12 and 13 which are. interposed therebetween, asseen in FIG. 5. be understood that the thickness of the cloth and size and position of the stitches shown in the drawings are exaggerated for sake of clarity. Gussets 12 and 13 are formed of elliptical shaped pieces of flannel folded along lines 12b and 13b, respectively, so that they provide double ply, triangular pieces when stitched to the side of cover 11. After the stitches 16 and 17 have been sewn as described, cover 11 is then turned inside out so that the seams are on the inside of the cover. Next, foam rubber strip 10 is inserted in the open end of the cover after which the end portions 11c are sewn together by stitches 11d. The pad will now be as seen in FIG. 3. Adjustable straps 15 are then sewn to the cover adjacent to the ends and on opposite sides by stitching through the cover and gussets. Preferably, straps 15 are of relatively wide tape-like material and comprise two sections which may be adjustably attached to one another for securing the pad to the foot or arm of a patient so that the pad fits snugly to the heel or elbow, as the case may be. In the form shown, one strap section 15a has a series of metal eyes 15b therein'at intervals of one-half inch, for example, and the complementary section has hooks 15d which are adapted to be caught in an appropriate eye of the respective section 15a to provide adjustable tension of the strap for holding the pad snugly in place, as shown in FIG. 1. Section 15a are preferably double thickness with the side next to the patients skin being continuous to shield the skin from the hooks in the eyes. This form of strip is well known in the art and is available commercially, and it is to be understood that any other suitable form of attachment devices could be utilized for attaching the pad to the patient.

It will be seen that gussets 12 and 13 in the cover cooperate with the relatively thick resilient portion of the pad to provide a uniformly soft socket lining and the heel or elbow of a patient can be received in the socket to provide protection thereof from the mentioned adverse effects of the weight of the patient lying on the bed as well as alfording protection against abrasion or irritation of the skin tissues of these members due to rubbing on the relatively coarse bedclothing. The form of the pad permits it to be snugly attached to the patients heel or elbow and firmly retained in place so that sliding of the skin on the pad lining is minimized and the resiliency of the pad permits it to easily conform to the patients movements while providing the protection described.

For sanitary considerations the material comprising the pad is preferably such that the pads can be laundered in conventional clothes washing machines.

It will be seen that my improved pad provides an effective, pressure and abrasion relieving device for the heels and elbows of bed patients, is inexpensive to manufacture and provides a comfort and protection not heretofore available. 3

Although I have described but one form of the invention, it is to be understood that other forms, modifications It will and adaptations of the invention could be made, all falling within the scope of the claim which follows I claim:

A completely soft and flexible pad of the character described comprising a rectangular strip of soft resilient material enclosed in a cloth cover comprising a rectangu- [at strip of cloth folded to form an end surrounding one end of the resilient strip, the ends of the cloth strip being stitched together at a seam at the opposite end of said resilient strip, said cloth strip being jointed along the sides thereof by side seams extending substantially the entire length thereof, gusset members each comprising an elliptical piece of cloth folded toform two plies joined by a folded edge, said gusset members being attached to said side seams and extending between opposite ends of said cover and serving to maintain said cover and enclosed resilient strip in a partially folded form with the angle between the planes of the inner sur faces thereof being less than 90, and means to attach 4 said pad to a limb of a patient comprising two pairs of straps having their ends attached to the pad adjacent the corners thereof and at the junctions of the gusset members with the side seams.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,304,558 Gran May 27, 1919 1,351,731 Baldwin Sept. 7, 1920 2,381,738 Grannan Aug. 7, 1945 2,416,040 Armstrong Feb. 18, 1947 2,478,497 Morrison Aug. 9, 1949 2,620,484 Gerry Dec. 9, 1952 2,690,747 Frallic Oct. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 169,091 Austria Oct. 10, 1951 940,840 France June 7, 1948 

